Minnesota Timberwolves Rumors: Team shopping D’Lo, shop for TyTy

Per the latest 2022 NBA mock draft by NBA Insider/pundit Kevin O’Conner of The Ringer, the Minnesota Timberwolves are once again rumored to be shopping guard D’Angelo Russell and making room for Kentucky guard TyTy Washington. So how does that all shake out for a team hoping to return to the NBA Playoffs, and perhaps advance further than round one?

The Timberwolves have two significant contracts on the books for the 2022-23 NBA season. One year remains on the books for guard D’Angelo Russell, and two years remain on the books for center Karl-Anthony Towns.  While that affords the Timberwolves plenty of wiggle room in terms of how new President Tim Connelly constructs the team’s roster, it also fast-tracks a number of decisions.

The Minnesota Timberwolves must quickly make some roster decisions that will have long-term implications for the team. For starters, the team enters the 2022 NBA Draft with far better back-court talent available than front-court talent. It is that reason that likely prompts O’Conner to suggest that the Timberwolves are actively shopping their veteran guard D’Loading, likely in exchange for front-court help, and in the process create a spot to fill with a rookie guard.

Of course, there are three major components to O’Cooner’s scenario that he assumes, none of which may be the case. What are those three presumptions?

Step one: Timberwolves are open to trading D’Angelo Russell

The biggest presumption of this rumor is the belief that the Timberwolves are open to trading  D’Angelo Russell. There is a huge difference in fielding calls versus open to trading. How? If the Timberwolves are fielding calls, they are listening to what the current offers are, and are not committing to negotiate for what it may take to trade the player.

Shopping D’Angelo Russell suggests that the Timberwolves are actively calling other teams, trying to find a team that may be interested, and then working with any interested team(s) to negotiate the best trade package in return for Russell. I know that Connelly will be aggressive. I don’t believe that he will be foolish.

Step two: Other NBA teams will pay the asking price for Russell

The Minnesota Timberwolves will not just part ways with veteran D’Angelo Russell for the highest bidder. Russell has a host of things that he does very well, and the Timberwolves are not biting the bullet by sticking with him for the final year of his contract.

So it will be up to the team seeking Russell to lure the Timberwolves front office into active negotiations. What will that mean? A lottery pick is a minimum. But I would not be surprised if the Timberwolves hold out for a package of pick(s) and player(s) to part ways with the player.

Step three: TyTy Washington is a player who is on the Timberwolves’ radar as an option for the 19th overall pick

While TyTy Washington is a very talented young man, I’m not certain that he is the primary target on the Minnesota Timberwolves draft board. The Timberwolves have a very accomplished brain trust in their front office now, but they are all johnny-come-latelys. That suggests that unless the Timberwolves had vetted and decided that TyTy Washington was ‘the pick’ before Connelly arrived, I don’t think that the Timberwolves will suddenly pivot to placing him on their radar after Connelly has arrived.

Does Washington have intriguing qualities? Of course. But I don’t know that the Timberwolves truly have a place for the young man, as his rookie season will likely be a learning curve. Do the Timberwolves risk taking a step back now to take two steps forward later?

Step four: TyTy Washington will be on the board at 19  when the Minnesota Timberwolves make their selection

I’ve never been a fan of NBA rumors that are dependent upon a single player’s availability. The belief that a single player will be on the board at the 19th pick is a helluva roll of the dice in any NBA Draft. In fact, former Philadelphia 76ers GM Sam Hinkie made a living from pre-selecting a player that he knew was on another team’s radar and then trading that player to the interested team for a premium price.

There are plenty of talented players in the 2022 NBA Draft. While the Timberwolves will set up their draft board, I expect that they will have multiple names and positions at the 19th overall pick. Otherwise, the Timberwolves have simply hired the wrong president.